A MOBILE phone app that lets surfers know the best time to go to the beach was among the ideas highlighted at a Welsh technology conference.

The Welsh apps showcase held at the Millennium Centre brought together experts in mobile technology from around the world.

Developers said that creating apps for mobile phones could become a key boost for the Welsh economy in coming years.

Among the companies at the University of Glamorgan event was the Cardiff firm behind Surf-Forecast.com, which has previously developed a snow forecasting app.

Company director Nick Russill said: “Predicting ocean swells and weather is far more challenging than just snow forecasting, so we have had to develop very complex software systems.”

Companies that develop apps for businesses said they had seen increased interest in recent months as people seek to get on board with the new technology.

Philip Shaw, from Bridgend-based Vroom Media, said: “A lot of people see it as a way of reinforcing their brand presence.

“It showcases their product, it’s about getting their logo on to people’s phones.”

The Welsh Apps Showcase was organised by the University of Glamorgan’s Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services, a unique £4.9m EU-funded project which helps smaller businesses and start-ups to design, develop and protect the creation of new mobile phone services and applications.

A spokesman for the Welsh Government, which is also sponsoring the centre, said: “The Welsh Government has an economic policy to support in sectors that we feel can make a difference to the Welsh economy and ICT is one of the six priority sectors and within that sector we’re looking at a number of mobile and cloud applications.”

A number of the apps look at ways in which exploring Wales can be made more interesting for visitors to the country.

The Welsh for Beginners app from Abercynon-based MJR Solutions was described as a way for visitors to learn a bit of Welsh for when they come to visit the country.

The company also has plans to develop augmented reality technology, where information about a location can be layered over a view from the mobile phone camera when the person uses it to scan the area.

Melinda Russell, from MJR Solutions, said the system being developed would allow businesses to update the information themselves so the data is always up to date for people using.

A version of the Taste Mid Wales app was the first Welsh language app to hit the market back in 2009 and a new updated version is set to be launched in the next month which will give people information about food and drink producers and farmers markets near them when they visit Mid Wales.

Clint Middleton, from Mid Wales Food, said the app aimed to make it easier for visitors and businesses to find locally produced food, while giving the small companies behind the produce a chance to reach a wider audience.

He said: “If you’re a hotel in Aberaeron and you want to do a nice local breakfast, you can find where there’s food producers nearby, and your menu now looks better.

“One of the things I know we’re looking at is doing food trails, so you could have a local breakfast in Aberystwyth and go to Newtown for lunch and then maybe head up north for dinner at a hotel.”

Other apps developed by Cardiff companies hope to make life easier for people, with one by Method4 that helps people keep track of their direct debits and another being developed by Box UK for Cardiff University which will include information for students to help them find a free computer on campus.

However, Tim Whalley from design agency Huw David warned against companies launching an app just for the sake of it.

He said: “If you don’t do an app properly it could damage your business. It’s got to add value and strengthen your brand.”

Next page: The best Welsh apps

MyZoomCard : allows users to send a Zoom Card showing a map of their location and a message to friends and family – Cooply Solutions

Go2Saundersfoot : walking tours, history lessons and information about the Saundersfoot area – MJR Solutions

Metro Online : mobile version of the newspaper, which also features games such as Fantasy Football and Bamboozle – Vroom Media

Direct Debit Control Centre : allows people to keep on top of their outgoing bill payments – Method4

7Golf : allows golfers to track their scores and progress while playing games, and measure improvements in their skills over time – tyfu